CAMERON Jerome’s move to Bolton Wanderers could be completed by the weekend.

CAMERON Jerome’s move to Bolton Wanderers could be completed by the weekend.

A fee of £3.5 million, rising to £6 million, has been agreed in principle.

But before all the paperwork is finalised, Bolton want to be certain about the extent of Jerome’s current injury.

He damaged his heel in pre-season and after losing Tyrone Mears and Chung-Yong Lee to leg breaks already this term, Bolton don’t want to be splashing out only to then find Jerome remains on the casualty list for an extended spell.

However, Jerome, who is 25 on Sunday, has started jogging again following a period of rest and expects to pass a medical.

Stoke City and Fulham are interested in Jerome, but he prefers a move to the north west and Bolton.

With Marlon King (knee) injured and Nikola Zigic, who is expected to leave St Andrew’s as well, recovering from groin surgery, Chris Hughton is desperate to secure more options up front.

Defender Anthony Gardner is set to join on a Bosman today, subject to a successful medical, to provide extra cover at the back.

But it is in the forward areas where Hughton is doing his most feverish work.

Chris Wood was signed on loan from Albion last week and Hughton is also taking a look at Craig Fagan as well as Lomana LuaLua in training.

They both figured in a 6-3 defeat for the reserves at Spurs yesterday, along with Darren Carter.

LuaLua netted twice against the hosts, who included David Bentley.

Fagan, 28, came through the Blues Academy system and is a free agent after his contract was not renewed at Hull City.

He left Blues in 2004 after a successful loan spell at Colchester United.

From there it was on to Hull City and Derby County, Fagan helping the Rams to promotion in 2007 via the Championship play-offs at the expense of Albion.

Blues fan Fagan returned to Hull and struggled with injury last season before he left.

He spent time on trial at Cardiff City and appeared for Crystal Palace in a friendly this pre-season.

Midfielder Carter, an Academy contemporary of Fagan and Blues 2002 play-off final penalty hero, is also spending a week at the club in a bid to earn a contract.

Hughton is exploring a variety of avenues as he tries to beef up Blues squad.

Sourcing Bosman free agents and loans is his main concern at present because of Blues’ financial plight.

Peter Pannu was tasked at the end of last season by parent company Birmingham International Holdings Limited to generate money from sales, and also slash the wage bill.

He warned that he would have to implement some ‘unpopular decisions’ just before Ben Foster was loaned to Albion.

Michel has since been sold and Jerome is on his way, with Scott Dann also likely to go, although Stoke’s capture of Matthew Upson on a free from West Ham United could impact on their needs now.

Whether Hughton will have funds to use in the transfer market himself remains unclear.

Six signings so far have been Bosmans, two loans, and inviting available players for trials is a risk-free option.

Blues had Brazilian midfielder Radames da Silva and two other trialists in the side yesterday – one of whom scored – but their names are being kept under wraps.